Our Joy Has Come

I spoke with my sister last night.  I've missed her calls. During our  3 week vacation in Florida I tried my best to stay off my phone. The Jennifer 10 years ago would have tried to set rules and tell the kids, "no electronics while we are on vacation!"  But who am I kidding?  The trip alone was 16 hours one way.  Electronics was the only source of entertainment as we made our way to Florida and followed the same straight road.  As we ventured further into our destination we entered a tunnel and that was pretty cool.  

Just so you know, we haven't vacationed in over 10 years. My sister was worried that we entered into a hot spot for COVID-19. But honestly, we just went from one hot spot to another.  We heard on the news about the delta variant as well as the Lambda which made its way into Houston.  We wore our masks. Distanced as much as possible and avoided crowded areas.  We are all vaccinated except Hazel. Our days were planned as carefully as they could be.  

Marty is an old friend, RN, BSN and an amazing person. In 2008 we worked at a rehab facility together. She was the one that blessed us with Nibbler. Before our trip I told her that Nibbler had passed away. She sent her condolences and showed us pictures of Nibblers dad, Eeyore, who is still alive. I mentioned to her that eventually, after our vacation we would be looking for a Shitzu. 

I'm still not sure if it was 1 week or 2 weeks into our trip, but I received an email from Marty. It was a craig listing for a Shitzu who was around 1 month old.  The newborn pup was white with splashes of black. 

I thought about Nibbler. Emily expressed her desire to get a white Shitzu. One look at this new baby and I knew she was meant to be in our family.  Nibbler was a black shitzu. The black would remind us of Nibbler.  In the midst of our busyness I managed to call Tom, the owner.  This dog was his boyfriends dog that only had one puppy.  One.  Just one pup. One pup that Marty agreed to pick her up and care for her until we were done with our vacation and headed back to Austin. 

Over the course of a couple of weeks, Marty sent us updates with pictures of Oreo. 

My heart felt a little bit better seeing pictures of our new pup. As the passing of Nibbler just happened before our trip to Florida, we had plans on taking him to the beach,  riding in the car with us to Florida. Nibbler enjoying the breeze as he stuck his head out the window. Seeing his reaction once more as he saw DJ, our son.  Those memories didn't happen. The trip was a way to help us all escape our troubles. It was a time to help us heal.  Although it still hurt so much that I thought about cancelling our trip. 

So last night, as I talked to my sister about the joy we have once again, we talked as sisters do. Talks about our homeschool curriculum. Talks about when we would start school. Talks about my trip. Talks about the new little bundle of joy we have now.

Sometimes I have to just sit back and relax, take a deep breathe and  soak up all the blessings that God has given me.  

To see the happiness that Marty has brought me once again through Oreo, it reminds me that God has good plans for us. Never in my mind would I have thought a friendship through nursing more than 12 years ago would once again bring me a new life for all of us to enjoy again. 

 Our Joy. It is finally here. 

Nibblers Urn (Emily decorated with a sticker)

 and the beautiful

Rainbow Bridge Horse from Marty.

My souvenir from Florida.

Hazel and her brother enjoying breakfast together.

Cuteness Overload!!!

Until Next Time, 

Mask Up!

Get Vaccinated!

Jennifer

 Sorrow will turn to Joy

"A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."

John 16:16

Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned to joy.

John 16:20

Jesus was speaking to his disciples in these two verses.  They inquired among themselves, confused as to what Jesus was saying. 

"What is this that He says, "A little while? We do not know what He is saying."

John 16:18

Jesus was a storyteller. He loved to tell stories. His use of figurative language confused many people and sometimes what people needed was for him to tell them plainly about the plans the Father had for him.

Later on in this passage, in verse 21, he tries to explain what he is saying by using the Miracle of Birth.

A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. 

We may have sorrow for now because we live in a world that  constantly has it. We as humans have no choice. Sorrow is inevitable.  Jesus reminds us in this passage that our Sorrow will turn into joy.  There will be a time when the anguish that we endure will be turned into joy.  A time where the person we love so much will be taken away from us that it causes our heart to break into a million pieces. Jesus was soon going to be taken away and he was preparing the disciples for what was to come.

We lose the ones we love so dearly, only to see them again.  I believe we will be reunited with our loved ones who have passed and that includes our four legged, furry pets. 

This passage gave me so much comfort this morning. 

Jesus was preparing his disciples for the day when he would no longer be with them. 

No longer would they talk, eat, sleep, walk and have fellowship with Jesus. 

No longer would their Best Friend be available to comfort them when needed.  

No longer would they hug each other, or hold hands and pray. Or most importantly, break bread together.

No longer will we hold Nibbler, comfort him when he's crying or tell him he's such a good boy.

No longer will we take him to the park and hold him so closely to us as we journey there.

No longer will we see our Best Friend on our couch, our bed, our more precious than ever, in our arms.

These things Jesus spoke of to remind us today that we are not alone. 

Even in our sorrow.

One day we'll meet again my dear old friend.

I love You Nibbler. 

Zach would take him to the park and carry him everywhere he needed to be since he could no longer walk. 

July 02, 2021

13 years loved and pampered. 

 

There hasn't been much running here lately. 

Rain, "Would you please go away?"

Well, "Come what may, I want to run."  The name of this blog. I created it in 2012 in the midst of my anxiousness, depression and a way to express my thoughts.  It began after I started homeschooling my kids. You will see past posts of my kids and the things we did when we homeschooled. You will also see my family. I thought about cleaning up the blog and taking down posts that maybe were a bit too uncomfortable for me now. People that are no longer in my life now and subject matter where I poured out my heart.  But what purpose would that serve?  When you see me now, I'm no longer the Jennifer who ran 10 miles twice a week, or the Jennifer that had to have every single homeschool subject down. I am no longer the Jennifer who is 120 pounds, size 4.  I am no longer the mother who made every food from scratch where I didn't even allow a canned item or boxed item on our food menu.  

And thats the beauty of this blog and our lives.  We change. We become a better version of ourselves overtime and we extend Grace to ourselves.  One of my biggest accomplishments over the years has been to forgive myself for not being that past Jennifer.  The one I just told you about and the one that you will see in this blog.  You will now see a new Jennifer who is continuing to run the race that God has set out before her.  

She's encountered many obstacles this past year.  In fact, we all have in some way.  

• What are the obstacles that you have encountered? 
• What has helped you to get through them?  
• What are some hobbies that keep you occupied?

I've noticed I'm doing more online shopping and scrolling through Facebook to keep my mind busy. 

And I've found that I have so much I want to share with you that I'm starting to write again.  

You will see random posts, just like my life is right now.  

Enjoy this video of some pretty amazing teens. 

The Linda Lindas

Until Next Time,

Stay Safe

Jennifer